The Newmarket community may not be able to sit down together and break bread, but a local family-run restaurant is showing support for frontline health-care workers over a meal at a distance.
Brothers Gaspare and Tony Sortino have been at the helm of Molisana Bakery in Newmarket for 17 years and have built a loyal following for their mouth-watering, homemade southern Italian food. This week, they shared that food with about 40 frontline health-care workers at Southlake Regional Health Centre.
And even though times are tough for restaurateurs as dining rooms have been shuttered to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Sortinos felt moved to treat the health-care professionals who are working tirelessly to battle the pandemic.
“In this time of crisis that we’re going through right now, I’m sure the frontline doctors and nurses, and everybody in the medical field, are bombarded with the health issues that we’re facing,” Gaspare said. “I’m sure they could all use a little cheering up, a little gratitude, and it’s the least we can do for them.”
So, earlier this week, the Sortinos and staff at the Yonge Street and Savage Road Molisana packaged up lasagna, pasta in a rose sauce, salad, deli sandwiches, and chicken parmigiana, and delivered it just in time for dinner to Southlake staff.
“We had a phone call an hour later from one of the doctors thanking us and everybody was in the background shouting out their thanks,” Gaspare said. “It was a very nice message, it was nice to hear.”
Followers on Molisana’s Facebook page were heartened by the brothers’ gesture of gratitude to the local doctors, nurses, and Southlake medical staff.
“It’s during difficult times that your true character is exposed. Proud of you, Tony and Gaspare, for doing this and not at all surprised,” said Joe Regina. “You guys are awesome. And thanks to the amazing health-care workers for doing all they do.”
Patron Linda Stamko said it was “so nice to hear a positive, uplifting story during this difficult time”.
There's uncertainty about what's ahead for many small business owners, and Gaspare acknowledges that it is “going to be very tough for everyone to recuperate after this”. But the Sortinos encourage local restaurant owners to treat hard-working health-care staff to a meal in a show of gratitude for their life-saving work.
Other local business owners have also rallied to show support for those hardest hit by the current public health crisis.
Newmarket Tim Hortons franchise owner Jim Alexander, who is known to roll up his sleeves whenever there’s a need in the community, has provided free coffee and doughnuts to nursing homes Southlake Village and Eagle Terrace, as well as Margaret Bahen Hospice.
Mayor John Taylor shared Alexander’s act of kindness on social media, sparking a flurry of comments from citizens expressing thanks for thinking about the community’s most vulnerable.
“In these very difficult times, it is good to share these acts of kindness,” Taylor said. “Let’s keep caring for each other.”
Many local restaurants are still open for take-out and delivery, and catering. Call or visit the restaurant online to learn more about how it is operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you plan to donate food to the Southlake hospital health-care team, keep the following in mind:
- To ensure social distancing, all donations of food or food orders must come from commercially prepared stores and be individually wrapped or in serving containers for one person (i.e. sandwiches, pitas, salads);
- If pizza is ordered, then slices must come on individual pizza plates, in a bag or individual pizza boxes;
- All food deliveries must be delivered to the East entrance;
- Visit Southlake here for more information.
